Brandy (album)

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Brandy is the debut album by the American singer Brandy. It was released on September 27, 1994, by Atlantic Records. Chiefly produced by Keith Crouch, the album contains a range of contemporary genres, including hip-hop, pop-soul, and R&B. Aside from Crouch, Norwood worked with a range of other writers and producers, including R&B group Somethin' for the People, Arvel McClinton, Damon Thomas, and Crouch's brother Kenneth.

Upon release, Brandy received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented Norwood's appearance, as well as the album's timeless appeal. While the album initially sold slowly, it reached number 20 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over two million copies in the United States.<ref name="mtv1"/>

Four singles were released from the album. "I Wanna Be Down" was chosen as the album's lead single and peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="hot100"/> The song was critically lauded and was regarded as a standout track on Brandy. The album's second single "Baby" was also well-received and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="hot100"/> The following two singles, "Best Friend" and "Brokenhearted", peaked at numbers 34 and nine on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.<ref name="hot100"/> Brandy and its singles garnered Norwood nominations for various awards, including two Grammy Award nominations.<ref name=grammys96/> The success of the album allowed Norwood to establish herself as one of the most successful of the then-new generation of R&B female vocalists who emerged during the mid-to-late 1990s.

Background

In 1990, Norwood's talent led to a binding oral contract with Teaspoon Productions, headed by Chris Stokes and Earl Harris, who obtained her gigs as a backing vocalist for their R&B boy band Immature.<ref name="jet10">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ppl1"/> The agreement, also called for Teaspoon to represent her and attempt to secure her a record deal.<ref name="jet10"/> Norwood first auditioned for Atlantic Records when she was 11 years old.<ref name="vibe10">Template:Cite web</ref> Unfortunately, the executives at the label turned her away as they felt she was too young and urged her to come back when she turned 14.<ref name="vibe10"/> Coincidentally, on the same day in 1993 Teaspoon Productions had negotiated a deal for Norwood with East West Records, while her parents organized a recording contract with Atlantic Records.<ref name="jet10"/> During her audition at Atlantic she auditioned for the company's director of A&R, Darryl Williams.<ref name="ppl1">Template:Cite web</ref> Williams, recalled Norwood's audition saying, "Brandy stood out. She was just energetic and had an incredible voice for a 14-year-old."<ref name="ppl1"/> Norwood subsequently dropped out of Hollywood High School later and was tutored privately from tenth grade on.<ref name="ppl1"/><ref name=popstar96/>

During the early production stages of her debut on the Atlantic label, Norwood was selected for a role in the ABC sitcom Thea, portraying the 15-year-old daughter of a single mother played by Thea Vidale.<ref name=popstar96/><ref name="vibe7">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Broadcast to mediocre ratings, the series ended after one season, consisting of 19 episodes.<ref name="tva">Template:Cite web Template:Dead link</ref> Norwood appreciated the cancellation of the show as she was unenthusiastic about acting at the time; also taping caused scheduling conflicts with the recording of her album.<ref name=popstar96>Template:Cite news</ref> According to Norwood, "I wanted to sing so badly that I was miserable when I had to cancel studio time to tape".<ref name=popstar96/> She further discussed the shows cancellation saying, "When Thea was canceled I was like, ‘Okay, I can now put all my focus into my album."<ref name="vibe10"/>

Recording and production

Recording of Brandy commenced in 1993.<ref name="VladTV_Thomas">Template:Cite web</ref> Williams initially consulted all-male R&B group Somethin' for the People and musician Damon Thomas to work on the album, with Somethin' for the People contributing "Sunny Day", "Give Me You", and "I Dedicate," the latter of which was later split into three interludes.<ref name="booklet">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Thomas co-wrote "I'm Yours" and produced "Love Is on My Side."<ref name="booklet"/> A then 16-year-old Robin Thicke scored his first co-writing credit on the latter.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:Dead link</ref> While they produced the majority of Brandy, Williams brought in the then-21-year-old, relatively unknown writer-producer Keith Crouch, nephew of gospel singer Andraé Crouch, towards the end of the project to work with Norwood on the bulk of the throwback, funk-soul production of the album.<ref name="bb">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In a 2012 interview with Vibe magazine, Norwood elaborated that her collaboration with Crouch "was very important for me as a young artist. At the time he was not trying to be like anyone else on radio. He was all about his own sound. [He] gave me real music. He didn’t give me teenybopper records. It was age appropriate, youthful records, but it was still real music. We had a great connection."<ref name="vibe10"/> Crouch would go on to work on 50 percent of Brandy, setting much of the tone of the album, with four from his five tracks becoming singles.<ref name="bb"/> While recording her vocals with him, Norwood was inspired by several singers, citing Whitney Houston and gospel group The Clark Sisters as major inspirations, particularly on "Movin' On."<ref name="bb"/> However, she struggled to identify with some of Crouch's material at first, especially on "Baby", whose lyrics made her afraid of not being old enough.<ref name="bb"/>

Music and lyrics

With Brandy consisting mostly of street-oriented R&B songs with influences from hip hop,<ref name="NYT">Template:Cite web</ref> the lyrics highlighted her youthful and innocent image.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Norwood later summed up the songs on the record as young and vulnerable: "I did not really know much – all I wanted to do was sing. You can easily understand that it is a person who sings genuinely, without any real experience. I sang about being attracted to the opposite sex but had no experience of it."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album's fourth track, "I Dedicate (Part I)", is the first of three where Norwood thanks artists who inspired her for a career in music. In the first part, which lasts one minute and 29 seconds, she mentions Whitney Houston as her "mentor" and "role model".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Singles

"I Wanna Be Down" was released as the album's lead single on September 5, 1994, to positive critical reception. The song peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100<ref name="hot100">Template:Cite magazine</ref> and atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.<ref name="hotr&b">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Internationally, the song peaked at numbers 12 and 11 in Australia and New Zealand, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 4,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> selling over 600,000 copies in the United States by the end of 1994.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The song's accompanying music video, directed by Keith Ward, portrays Norwood in her tomboyish image, dancing in front of a Jeep near a forest, surrounded by backup dancers.<ref name="starprofile">Porter, Nina (January 25, 2000). "The Brandy Star Profile". Master Dance Tones.</ref> The Rhythm Nation Hip-Hop Remix of the song, featuring MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Yo-Yo, was included on the B-Side single for "Baby".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

"Baby" was released as the second single on December 24, 1994, to positive critical reception. It became an even larger commercial success than "I Wanna Be Down" peaking at number four both on the Billboard Hot 100 and in New Zealand,<ref name="hot100"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while becoming her second consecutive Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one.<ref name="hotr&b"/> The single sold over one million copies by the end of 1995,<ref name=us_sales>Template:Cite magazine</ref> being certified platinum by the RIAA.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its accompanying music video, directed by Hype Williams, features Norwood and her company dancing in skiing outfits in Times Square.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards.<ref name=grammys96/>

"Best Friend" was released as the third single on April 11, 1995. Although positively received by critics, the song failed to duplicate the commercial success of the previous two singles. It peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100,<ref name="hot100"/> but fared better on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, where it peaked at number seven.<ref name="hotr&b"/> Internationally, the song charted only in New Zealand, where it peaked at number 11.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its accompanying music video, directed by Matthew Rolston, features Norwood and her backup troupe displaying their hip hop dancing skills in front of a garage; Norwood's younger brother Ray J, to whom the song was dedicated, appears in the video.<ref name="starprofile"/>

The re-recorded duet version of "Brokenhearted", with Wanya Morris from Boyz II Men, was released as the fourth and final single on August 8, 1995, to mixed critical reception. It became Norwood's third Billboard Hot 100 top-ten single, peaking at number nine,<ref name="hot100"/> as well as peaking at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.<ref name="hotr&b"/> Additionally, it peaked at number six in New Zealand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The single was certified gold by the RIAA on November 10 for shipments of 500,000 units in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Norwood reunited with Williams, director of previous videos for the Human Rhythm Hip Hop remix of "I Wanna Be Down" and "Baby", to film a music video for "Brokenhearted" inside the Oheka Castle.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:Cbignore</ref>

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings In his review for AllMusic, Eddie Huffman wrote that "this teenage R&B singer hit the Top Ten late in 1994 with "I Wanna Be Down", a representative track from her solid debut album. Brandy knows her way around a hip-hop beat, layering tender-tough vocals over spare arrangements like a lower-key Janet Jackson or a more stripped-down Mary J. Blige. Good songs and crisp production make Brandy a moody, moving success."<ref name="allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2007, Vibe rated Brandy among the 150 most essential albums since its launch.<ref name="vibe"/> The magazine found that "Brandy's debut is slow, deliberate, and naive — not for lack of accomplishment, but because the best moments here sound as wide-eyed and new as a first date."<ref name="vibe">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

People compared the effort with Aaliyah's debut album Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, which was released four months prior, writing: "While everything about Aaliyah screams here-and-now, Brandy's well-groomed blend of gently lilting hip hop and pop-soul has a more timeless appeal. With the poise and sassy confidence of a diva twice her age, Brandy mixes her love songs with tributes to her little brother ("Best Friend"), God ("Give Me You"), the perfect man ("Baby") and older crooners like Aretha and Whitney ("I Dedicate"). While this isn't groundbreaking stuff, Brandy has the pipes to become more than the latest teenage next-big-thing."<ref name="people">Template:Cite web</ref> Anderson Jones from Entertainment Weekly was less enthusiastic with the album. He gave the album a C rating and considered it as: "An album that seems based on the philosophy 'If Aaliyah can do it, why can't I?' except that in singing about best friends, heroes, and puppy love instead of about making love, teen actress Norwood (TV's Thea) acts her age. A premature effort, at best."<ref name="ew">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In his Consumer Guide, Robert Christgau gave the album a "neither" score,<ref name="christgau"/> and said it "may impress once or twice with consistent craft or an arresting track or two. Then it won't."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Clear

Accolades

Nominations: Template:Cite magazine
Winner: Template:Cite news</ref>

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|- | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | "Baby" | Template:Nom

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|- ! scope="row"| 1996 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best Cinematography in a Video | "Brokenhearted" | Template:Nom |rowspan="1"|<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |}

Commercial performance

Brandy debuted at number 94 on the US Billboard 200 for the week ending on October 15, 1994.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In its 25th week on the chart it peaked at number 20, remaining on the Billboard 200 for 89 consecutive weeks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="mtv1">Template:Cite web</ref> On the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart the album debuted at number 11.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In its 14th week on the chart it peaked at number six, where it charted for 87 consecutive weeks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Brandy was the 52nd best-selling album of 1995, with 1.2 million copies sold in the country.<ref name=us_sales/> By March 2002 the album had sold 2.12 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.<ref name="mtv1"/><ref name=BB>Template:Cite magazine</ref> To date the album is certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for four million shipped units.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Canada, Brandy debuted on RPM' s Top Albums/CDs chart at number 46 during the week ending on January 30, 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In its third week on the chart the album reached its peak at number 20, during the week of February 13, 1995.<ref name=Canadadebut>Template:Cite web</ref> Overall, the album had spent a total of 28 consecutive weeks on the Top Albums/CDs chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On June 27, 1995 Brandy was certified gold by Music Canada for denoting shipments of over 50,000 copies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album also peaked at number 26 in Australia.<ref name="Kent">Template:Harvnb</ref> In the United Kingdom, Brandy never got higher than number 119 on the UK Albums Chart, but sold more than 60,000 copies, resulting in a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).<ref name="chartarchive">Template:Cite web</ref>

Impact and legacy

With the release of her debut album and the combined commercial success of its singles, Norwood had established herself a successful solo artist. The album led her to successful endeavors before the release of her second album Never Say Never (1998), including a joint tour with vocal group Boyz II Men, songs landing on successful soundtracks for films such as Waiting to Exhale (1995) and Set It Off (1996), her first starring TV role in the sitcom Moesha, and starring as the first African-American Cinderella in Cinderella (1997).<ref name="complex.com">Template:Cite web</ref>

Widely acclaimed, Brandy was named one of the 50 best R&B albums of the 1990s by Complex.<ref name="complex.com"/> American neo soul singer Erykah Badu revealed on Twitter that her debut studio album Baduizm (1997) was partly influenced by Brandy, tweeting: "Brandy's first album was one of my inspirations when writing Baduizm. I looove that album [...] songs i liked were "I Wanna Be Down" and "Always on My Mind"... nice."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fellow neo soul artist Jill Scott particularly praised the songs "Sunny Day" and "Always on My Mind", saying "I listen to her shit all the time".<ref name="20years">Template:Cite web Template:Cbignore</ref> Pop group Karmin's song "Brokenhearted" was inspired by Brandy's song of the same title.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:Cbignore Template:Dead YouTube link</ref> Canadian recording artist Drake sampled all three parts of "I Dedicate" on his fourth studio album Views (2016) for the song "Fire & Desire".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gospel recording artists The Walls Group covered the song "Always on My Mind", turning it into "God on My Mind".<ref>Template:Cite web Template:Cbignore</ref>

Track listing

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Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Brandy.<ref name="liner">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

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Cat Daddy Ro – keyboard
Jerry Conaway – programming
Keith Crouch – producer
Kenneth Crouch – piano, producer
Derrick Edmondson – flute, saxophone, horn
Sherree Ford-Payne – vocal assistance
Rochad Holiday – producer
Kipper Jones – producer
Robert Jones – programming, drums
Tiara Lemacks – vocal assistance
Arvel McClinton III – programming, producer
Glenn McKinney – guitar
Brandy Norwood – lead vocals
Derek Organ – drums
Thomas Organ – guitar
Chacha Orias – bass
Rahsaan Patterson – vocal assistance
Robin Thicke – vocal assistance
Damon Thomas – piano, keyboard, producer
Darryl Williams – executive producer
Curtis Wilson – producer
Jeffrey Young – vocal assistance, arranger, producer

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Charts

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Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for *Brandy*
Chart (1994–1995)	Peak position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)<ref name=Canadadebut/>	20
UK Albums (OCC)<ref>Zobbel.de</ref>	119

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Year-end charts

1994 year-end chart performance for *Brandy*
Chart (1994)	Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)<ref name="year-end2">Template:Cite web</ref>	76

1995 year-end chart performance for *Brandy*
Chart (1995)	Position
US Billboard 200<ref name="year-end1">Template:Cite web</ref>	42
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)<ref name="year-end-1995">Template:Cite web</ref>	8

1996 year-end chart performance for *Brandy*
Chart (1996)	Position
US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	190

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Certifications

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Release history

Release dates and formats for *Brandy*
Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Template:Abbr
Australia	September 27, 1994	Template:Hlist	Warner Music	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters\|check\|unknown=\|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"\|ignoreblank=y\| 1 \| style }}
Canada				<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters\|check\|unknown=\|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"\|ignoreblank=y\| 1 \| style }}
France				<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters\|check\|unknown=\|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"\|ignoreblank=y\| 1 \| style }}
United States			Atlantic	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters\|check\|unknown=\|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"\|ignoreblank=y\| 1 \| style }}
United Kingdom	December 5, 1994		Atlantic	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters\|check\|unknown=\|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"\|ignoreblank=y\| 1 \| style }}
Germany	February 3, 1995		Warner Music	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters\|check\|unknown=\|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"\|ignoreblank=y\| 1 \| style }}
Japan	April 25, 1995		Warner Music	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters\|check\|unknown=\|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"\|ignoreblank=y\| 1 \| style }}

References

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Bibliography

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Brandy (album)

Contents

Background

Recording and production

Music and lyrics

Singles

Critical reception

Accolades

Commercial performance

Impact and legacy

Track listing

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

See also

References

Bibliography

Navigation menu

Brandy (album)

Background

Recording and production

Music and lyrics

Singles

Critical reception

Accolades

Commercial performance

Impact and legacy

Track listing

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

See also

References

Bibliography

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